EX-MILITANTS THREATEN VIOLENCE OVER NON-INCLUSION IN AMNESTY PROGRAMME

By Simon Ebegbulem
BENIN-FRESH crisis is brewing in the Niger Delta, as over 200 ex-militants in the region, who earlier accepted the amnesty granted by the Federal Government, have condemned the alleged non-inclusion of many of them in the amnesty training programme.

They have threatened to go back to the creeks if urgent steps were not taken to include them in the programme.

They complained that they complied with the 2009 Federal Government's amnesty proclamation and submitted their arms and were issued certificates, but unfortunately 'we have not been incorporated into the Amnesty Programme.'

The leader of the group, representing Edo State and ex-militant General Abiodu Edah (aka Karibu) and the National Secretary, Tam Odogwu, appealed to the National Assembly, during their protest in Benin City, Edo State, yesterday, to prevail on the Federal Government to fulfill its promises to avoid renewed violence in the region.

Kabiru said: 'The State Security Services, SSS, Director and the Joint Task Force, JTF, came to my community to disarm me and my boys. But we have not been included in the amnesty programme.'